wilbursmith_warlock-第101部分

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　aimed　straight　at　the　fence。　Nefer　lay　stretched　out　on　his　neck　and　shouted　at　him；　'Yes！　As　fast　as　you　like！'
　　
　　Krus　went　at　the　high　fence　without　a　check；　and　Nefer　shifted　his　weight　to　help　him　over。　They　rose　together　on　a　great　wave　of　power；　and　sailed　clear　over　the　top　bar；　landing　cleanly　in　balance。
　　
　　Nefer　laughed　with　exhilaration；　and　urged　him　forward　with　a　thrust　of　his　hips。　'e　on！　Let's　see　your　best　speed。'
　　
　　Krus　went　up　the　lower　slopes　of　the　bleak　bare　hills　like　a　wild　oryx；　and　disappeared　over　the　skyline；　headed　out　into　the　desert。　The　cheering　and　hubbub　on　the　city　walls　died　away；　and　a　profound　silence　fell。
　　
　　'We　must　send　someone　after　them；'　Mintaka　cried　in　the　silence。　'Nefer　may　be　thrown。　He　could　be　lying　out　there　in　the　wilderness　with　his　back　broken。'
　　
　　Taita　shook　his　head。　'It　is　between　the　two　of　them　now。　Nobody　should　intervene。'
　　
　　They　waited　on　the　walls　and　rooftops　while　the　sun　made　its　noon　then　began　to　sink　towards　the　horizon；　but　nobody　left　their　position　…they　would　not　chance　missing　the　climax　of　this　trial　of　strength　and　nerve　between　man　and　beast。
　　
　　'They　have　killed　each　other；'　Mintaka　fretted。　'That　horse　is　a　monster。　If　it　has　hurt　Nefer　I　will　have　it　destroyed；'　she　vowed　furiously。
　　
　　Another　hour　passed；　slowly　as　dripping　honey；　and　then　a　stir　ran　along　the　top　of　the　wall。　Men　jumped　to　their　feet　and　stared　up　at　the　crest　of　the　hills；　and　a　murmur　rose　slowly　to　an　excited　chorus　of　shouts　and　laughter。
　　
　　On　the　skyline　appeared　a　sorry　pair。　The　colt's　head　was　hanging；　and　his　coat　was　dark　with　sweat；　limed　with　the　salt　the　had　dried　upon　him。　His　utter　exhaustion　was　evident　in　every　halting　pace　he　took。　On　his　back　Nefer　drooped　wearily；　and　as　Krus　picked　his　way　down　the　slope　they　could　see　how　Pharaoh's　body　had　been　bruised　and　battered。
　　
　　Krus　reached　the　foot　of　the　hills。　He　was　too　far　gone　to　jump　the　fence　again；　but　he　came　submissively　down　the　dusty　road　towards　the　city　gates。
　　
　　Mintaka　shouted；　'Bak…her！　Well　done；　Your　Majesty！'　and　immediately　the　cry　was　taken　up　and　flung　from　man　to　man　until　it　echoed　from　the　hills　above　the　fountain　of　Osiris。
　　
　　'Bak…her！　Bak…her！'
　　
　　Nefer　straightened　on　the　colt's　back　and　raised　one　fist　high　in　a　triumphant　salute。　The　cheering　redoubled。
　　
　　Below　the　walls　he　showed　his　mastery　by　putting　Krus　through　a　series　of　turns；　first　one　way　then　the　other。　Then　he　stopped　him　with　a　hand　on　his　withers　and　made　him　back　up。　His　mands　were　almost　imperceptible；　light　pressure　of　his　knees　or　a　toe　pressed　behind　Krus'　elbow；　or　subtle　shifts　of　his　weight；　but　the　horse　responded　submissively。
　　
　　'I　feared　he　had　broken　the　colt's　spirit；'　Taita　told　Mintaka；　'but　Krus　is　one　of　those　rare　creatures　who　needs　firm　treatment　rather　than　kindness。　Nefer　had　to　establish　his　mastery　and；　Horus　is　my　witness；　I　have　never　seen　it　done　so　swiftly　and　pletely。'
　　
　　Nefer　rode　in　through　the　city　gates　and　waved　up　at　Mintaka；　then　went　down　the　long　avenue　to　the　cavalry　lines。　He　tethered　Krus　and　held　the　leather　bucket　for　him　to　drink。　Once　the　colt　had　slaked　his　thirst　he　washed　off　the　dust　and　dried　sweat　with　hot　water；　then　took　him　out　of　the　stable　to　roll　in　the　sand　lot。　He　filled　his　nosebag　with　crushed　dhurra　sweetened　with　honey；　and　while　Krus　ate　greedily；　Nefer　rubbed　him　down；　telling　him　how　brave　he　was；　how　they　would　run　the　Red　Road　together；　and　Krus　switched　his　ears　back　and　forth　as　he　listened　to　him。
　　
　　As　the　sun　went　down　Nefer　spread　the　straw　bedding　thickly　on　the　stable　floor。　Krus　sniffed　at　it；　nibbled　a　mouthful　then　lowered　himself　wearily　and　stretched　out　upon　his　side。　Nefer　lay　down　in　the　straw　beside　him　and　pillowed　his　head　on　Krus'　neck。　They　fell　asleep　together；　and　Mintaka　lay　alone　that　night。
　　
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　　The　next　day　Nefer　introduced　Krus　to　Dov。　The　horses　circled　each　other　warily；　sniffed　each　other's　mouths　and　circled　again。　When　Krus　thrust　his　nose　under　Dov's　tail　she　feigned　outrage　and　lashed　out　at　him　with　both　back　legs；　then　raced　away　flirtatiously　with　Krus　prancing　after　her。　Nefer　let　them　graze　together　for　the　rest　of　the　day；　and　the　following　morning　showed　them　the　chariot。　This　was　not　the　magnificent　royal　vehicle；　but　an　older；　well…used　one。　He　let　them　smell　the　shaft；　which　had　been　rubbed　and　polished　smooth　by　contact　with　the　flanks　of　many　other　horses。　When　they　both　lost　interest　in　such　a　mundane　object；　Meren　led　Krus　away　while　Nefer　took　Dov　through　the　next　step。
　　
　　Stroking　and　caressing　her；　he　placed　the　harness　carefully　over　her　shoulders　and　fastened　the　straps。　She　fidgeted　unhappily　but　allowed　him　to　place　these　unaccustomed　restraints　on　her。　He　went　up　on　her　back　and　took　her　on　two　circuits　of　the　field。　When　he　brought　her　back；　Meren　had　the　shaft　ready。　It　was　not　attached　to　the　chariot；　although　it　had　the　ring　bolt　at　one　end。　Nefer　hitched　the　harness　to　it；　and　Dov　rolled　her　eyes　nervously　as　she　felt　the　weight　hanging　down　her　side。　She　turned　her　head　to　examine　the　shaft；　and　once　she　had　satisfied　her　curiosity　he　took　her　head　and　led　her　forward。
　　
　　She　snorted　and　crabbed　as　the　shaft　followed　her；　but　Nefer　gentled　and　reassured　her。　After　they　had　circled　the　field　a　few　times　she　was　no　longer　skittering　sideways。　Now　came　the　crucial　step。　Nefer　had　borrowed　Hike's　placid　old　mare　and　placed　her　in　the　right…hand　traces。　She　stood　there　stolidly。　He　hitched　Dov　into　the　left…hand　position。　The　calm　nature　of　the　old　mare　reassured　Dov　and　she　stood　quietly。　Nefer　put　their　nosebags　on　them　and　fed　them　a　ration　of　crushed　dhurra。　When　she　was　relaxed　and　content；　he　padded　Dov's　back　legs　with　strips　of　linen　bandage　so　that　she　did　not　damage　herself　if　she　started　kicking　when　she　felt　the　full　weight　of　the　chariot　behind　her。
　　
　　He　need　not　have　worried。　He　took　her　head　and　led　her　forward　and　she　moved　easily　beside　the　old　mare。　Nefer　touched　her　shoulder　and　she　leaned　into　the　harness　and　took　her　share　of　the　weight　like　a　veteran。　Nefer　broke　into　a　run　and　Dov　trotted　at　his　side。　Then　he　jumped　up　into　the　cockpit　and　gathered　up　the　reins。　He　put　the　pair　through　a　series　of　turns；　each　one　tighter　than　the　last；　and　though　Dov　had　never　felt　the　reins　before　she　mimicked　her　right…hand　partner　faithfully。　By　the　end　of　that　first　day　she　recognized　the　mands　and　responded　to　them　instantly；　rather　than　waiting　for　the　old　mare　to　show　her　the　way。　For　another　five　days　he　ran　the　two　mares　together　and　Dov　learned　fast。
　　
　　Now　it　was　time　to　take　Krus　through　the　same　routine。　It　was　three　days　before　he　stopped　bolting　as　soon　as　he　felt　the　drag　of　the　shaft。　Nefer　almost　gave　up　on　him；　but　Taita　made　him　persevere。　'Give　him　your　patience　now　and　he　will　reward　you　a　thousand　times　over；'　he　counselled。　'He　has　intelligence　and　heart。　You　will　never　find　another　to　replace　him。'
　　
　　Eventually　Krus　resigned　himself　to　the　pole　that　slithered　after　him　and　aped　his　every　move　so　alarmingly。　Nefer　was　at　last　able　to　place　him　in　the　traces　beside　Dov。　She　turned　her　head　and　nuzzled　his　neck；　like　a　mother　with　a　fractious　child。　Krus　calmed　down　and　ate　his　dhurra。　When　Nefer　led　them　forward　he　tried　to　turn　sideways　and　balk　but　Nefer　slapped　him　sternly　across　the　haunch。　He　straightened　up　and　fell　in　line　with　Dov；　but　he　was　shirking。　Another　slap　and　he　put　his　shoulder　into　the　traces　and　took　his　fair　share。　The　sensation　must　have　pleased　him　for　soon　he　was　hauling　with　a　will。　The　only　difficulty　was　to　make　him　stop。
　　
　　Meren　threw　open　the　gate　of　the　paddock　and　jumped　up　on　to　the　footplate　as　the　chariot　rolled　past。　They　took　the　trade　road　and　swept　up　the　hills　in　a　cloud　of　their　own　red　dust。
　　
　　It　was　the　route　they　took　at　dawn　every　day　over　the　months　that　followed。　Each　evening　when　they　returned　to　Gallala　the　horses　were　quicker　and　ran　truer；　shoulder　to　shoulder　like　a　single　beast　with　two　heads　and　eight　legs。　The　two　young　warriors　on　the　footplate　were　harder　and　tougher；　burned　dark　by　the　desert　sun。
　　
　　Mintaka　learned　how　it　must　feel　to　be　a　widow。
　　
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　　There　were　only　five　warriors　of　the　Red　Road　in　the　fortress　city　of　Gallala：　Hilto；　Shabako；　Socco；　Timus　and　Toran。　Many　others　had　tried　but　had　lost　their　hair　braids　in　the　attempt。　Hilto　and　Shabako　were　adepts　of　the　third　and　highest　degree　of　the　order；　worshippers　of　the　nameless　god；　the　Bull　of　Heaven；　the　Sumerian　god　of　war。　Only　his　adepts　knew　his　true　name；　from　all　others　he　was　concealed　behind　the　covert　name　of　the　Red　God。　He　had　no　temple　or　shrine　dedicated　to　him。　He　came　when　two　or　more　of　his　adepts　invoked　his　name　upon　any　field　where　men　had　died　in　battle。　Such　a　place　was　Gallala；　for　here　Lord　Tanus　had　vanquished　the　enemies　of　Egypt　and　piled　their　severed　heads　in　the　plaza　of　the　city。
　　
　　Secret　catabs　honeybed　the　limestone　beneath　the　central　square；　making　it　a　most